Iban Longhouse

Rumah Panjang

Traditional communal dwellings housing extended Iban families, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into indigenous Sarawakian life and culture. Staying overnight in a longhouse includes traditional meals, crafts, and warm hospitality from residents who eagerly share their heritage.

Things to do

• Pua Kumbu Weaving Workshop — Learn traditional Iban textile weaving techniques from local artisans who create intricate patterned blankets using hand looms.
• Jungle Trekking — Explore the surrounding rainforest with longhouse guides who identify medicinal plants, wildlife, and traditional hunting paths used by Iban communities.
• Blowpipe Demonstration and Practice — Watch skilled hunters demonstrate the traditional blowpipe (sumpit) and try your hand at this ancient hunting tool used for centuries in Sarawak.
• Rice Paddy Tour — Walk through the communal rice fields surrounding the longhouse and learn about the planting and harvesting cycles central to Iban agriculture and festivals.
• Beadwork and Jewelry Making — Participate in creating traditional Iban beaded ornaments and jewelry under the guidance of resident craftspeople who share the cultural significance of each design.
• Evening Cultural Performance — Enjoy traditional Iban music, dancing, and storytelling by residents in the communal hall, often including the energetic ngajat dance.
• Kitchen Cooking Experience — Prepare traditional meals alongside longhouse women, learning to cook in the shared communal kitchen using local ingredients and age-old recipes.

Food to try

• Manok Pansuh — Tender chicken cooked in bamboo segments with ginger, garlic, and aromatic herbs, imparting a subtle bamboo flavor to this signature Iban dish.
• Ulak Linut (Jungle Fern Curry) — Wild ferns foraged from the surrounding forest are cooked in coconut milk with spices, representing traditional Iban knowledge of edible jungle plants.
• Penganan (Glutinous Rice Cake) — Sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves and cooked, traditionally prepared during festivals and served as a communal snack.
• Terubuk (Fermented Fish Paste) — A pungent condiment made from fermented freshwater fish, essential to Iban cuisine and used to flavor rice and vegetable dishes.
• Empudah (Bamboo Shoot Soup) — Fresh bamboo shoots harvested locally are simmered in a light broth with meat or fish, a refreshing seasonal specialty of the longhouse.
• Tuak Tasting — Sample the traditional rice wine brewed by residents, ranging from sweet to potent varieties, often shared during evening gatherings and celebrations.

Local customs & good to know

• Respect the Betara Sanctuary — The wooden carved figures and spirit shrines within the longhouse are sacred; ask permission before photographing and never touch these objects without guidance.
• Participate in Communal Meals — Meals are eaten together in the shared veranda; accepting food and eating with the family shows respect and strengthens the bonds of hospitality central to Iban culture.
• Learn Basic Iban Greetings — Simple phrases like 'Selamat pagi' (good morning) and 'Terima kasih' (thank you) are deeply appreciated and demonstrate respect for the host community.
• Understand Gawai Dayak Festival — If visiting during the harvest season (June), learn that Gawai is the most important Iban celebration giving thanks for the rice harvest and featuring feasting and unity.